Subungual Painful Tumor Presenting As Longitudinal Erythronychia

Abstract

Longitudinal melanonychia refers to is a linear pigmented band appearing on the nail plate and when the band is of red color it is termed as longitudinal erythronychia. Mostly it is asymptomatic and idiopathic but when it presents with pain in affected digit then there is strong suspicion of underlying glomus tumor. Here we report a young lady who presented with three year history of episodic excruciating pain in left index finger along with longitudinal band in nail plate. After clinical and radiological evaluation she was suspected to have a painful tumour (glomangioma) at the base of nail unit. Tumor was excised through transungual approach and patient was free of any pain a week after surgery.